Indicator.



M. L. JAMES.

INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-2i. 1915.

1,21 6,456.. Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

\L k llvuvvvuvuvuvvvuuuv- MERRILL JAMES, 015 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

Inmca'ron.

Specification of Letters Patent. Paten bed Fek 1917,

Application filed August 21, 1915. Serial No. 46,691.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MERRILL LEE JAMEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in indicators and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connectionwith vehicles whereby the direction of turn may be readily and conveniently disclosed; and it is an object of my invention to provide a novel and improved indicator comprising two relatively movable 7 members traveling in a path transverse of the vehicle to which it is applied and capable of independent operation.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in combination and arrangement of the several parts of my im-' proved indicator whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, 1 will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is an elevational view of a somewhat diagrammatic character illustrating an indicator constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating certain details of the invention as disclosed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line .44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the outer end of the tubular member as herein embodied.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a tubular member adapted to be disposed transversely of a vehicle and herein disclosed as suitably secured to the dash I), although-I wish it to be particularly understood that I am not limited. to the part of the vehicle to which my device may be applied.

Depending from the tubular member 1 at substantially its longitudinal center and in communication with the bore of said member is a casing 2 having mounted therein the shaft 3 to which is aflixed a gear wheel 1 in mesh with the rack member 5 of predetermined dimensions, the extremities of said rack being provided with the upstanding y'okes 6 adapted to coact with the endwise movable members 7 and 8 positioned within the tubular member 1 and to be hereinafter more particularly referred to. has also affixed thereto a sprocket wheel 9 of predetermined diameter and operatively engaged with the chain 10, the extremities of which are suitably connected with the operating levers ll whereby it will be perceived that the direction of rotation of the gear 4 may be as desired.

The endwise movable members 7 and 8 have their inner or adjacent extremities ar ranged in overlying relation and preferably with the member 7 telescoping the member 8 and the member 8 has secured to the periphery thereof the annular stop 12 and has also disposed therearound but free thereof the second annular stop 141 which is secured to the member 7 through the medium of the pins 15 disposed through the longitudinally disposed slots-16 provided in the member 8 whereby the stop 14: is 'secured to and movable with the meinber 7. Interposed between the stops 1'2 and 14 is the expansible member 17 herein disclosed as a conventional coil spring, surrounding the member 8 whereby the members 7 and 8 are normally at the limit of their movements inwardly of the tubular memberfsaid limit of inward movement of each of the members being controlled by the annular shoulder 18 produced adj aoent the outer extremity of each of said members 7 and 8 and coacting with the annular shoulder 18 suitably arranged within the tubular member 1. The yokes 6 are adapted to engage the stops 12 and 14 where by it will be perceived that upon endwise movement being imparted to the rack 5, one of the members 7' 01 8 will be caused to move in the same general direction whereby the indicator 19 carried by the'outer extremity of said member will be projected from within the tubular member 1 a distance suffi- The shaft 3 I Warning as to the direction of turn the veciently tooneside of thevehicle to give hicle is to make." 1 V a It will be readily appreciated that the expansible member 17 normally maintains the members, 7 and 8 confined within the tubular 'member 1 and in order to facilitate the movements of said members 7 and 8, I find it of advantage to interpose therebetween suitable anti-friction means, as indicated at .20, and to have the outer extremities of the bore ofthe tubular member 1 provided with A the anti-friction means 21, as is believed to be clearly shown in the accompanying drawings.

I also find it of advantage inpractice to provide each of the shoulders 18 with a facing of rubberor other compressible body to 1 serve as a shock absorber for a purpose which is believed to be clearly apparent to -those'skilled in the art to which .myinvention appertains.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that an mdicator constructed in accordance with my invention is of-an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience I and facility with which it may be assembled. i

I claim: a 1. A: device of the character described 7 comprising a tubular member, members disposed therein and capable of endwise movement, the adjacent extremities ofsaid members being in overlying relation, a collar carried by each of said members, an'expansible member interposed between said collars for normally maintaining the members substantially confined within the tubular member,

and means for imparting outward movement to said members.

Y Gopies of this patent may he obtained for 32. A device of the character described comprising a tubular member, members disposed therein and-capable of endvvise movement, the adjacent extremities of said members being in overlying relation, a collar carried by each of said members, an expansible movement, the adjacent extremities of said members being in'overlying relation, a collar carried by each of said members, an

expansible member interposed between said collars for normally maintaining the members at the l1m1t of their lnward relative lar carried by each of said members, an ex pansible member interposed between said collars for normally maintaining the members at the limit of their inward movement, an elongated member provided with upstanding yokes embracing the first named members and coacting with the collars for limiting the movement of the members under the influence of the expansible member, and means coacting with the elongated memher for moving the same in either direction.

5. A device of the character described comprising members capable of endwise movement, the adjacent extremities of said members being in overlying relation, a collar carried by each of said members, an expansible member interposed between said collars for normally maintaining the members at the limit of their inward movement, an elongated member provided with up standing yokes embracing the first named members and coacting with the collars for limiting the movement of the members under the influence of the expansible member, said elongated member constituting a rack, a gear in mesh therewith, and means for rotating the gear in either direction.

6. A device of the character described comprising tubular members in telescoping relation, the outer member being provided with a longitudinally disposed slot, a collar fixed to the outer member, a second collar surrounding the outer member but free thereof, means coactin g with the inner member and the second named collar and disposed through the slot of the outer member for fixing said second collar and the inner member, an expansible member surrounding the outer member and interposed between the collars for normally maintaining the members at the limit of their inward relative movement, and means for imparting outward movement to said members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MERRILL LEE JAMES.

Witnesses:

JOHN MULKEEN,

W. L. GnRvAIs.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

